Clock Terminology
Clocks are something that we as a modern society take for granted. We have them in every room of our home. We wear timepieces on our wrists and, essentially, take a clock with us everywhere we go. But for such a common part of everyday life, these remarkable inventions are rather complex, containing many components that perform various functions. Let's spend a few minutes discussing some common clock terminology.
Components in Common—Analog Clocks
When you think of the word "clock," you probably envision an analog clock. Analog clocks are timepieces with pointed or needle-like hands secured in centrally. The hands—usually two hands, one representing minutes and one representing hours—rotate circularly around the face of the clock, called the dial. The outer ridge of the dial displays numbers 1 to 12. Most familiar to us are the Arabic numerals we all learned in math class. But many clocks use Roman numerals to mark the hours. Analog clocks usually have a protective cover over the face of the dial. This is called the crystal and it is secured in an indented ridge surrounding the dial, called the bezel.
Movement
Movement is the terminology used to describe a clock’s internal instruments. A clock with key-wound movement requires a key to wind an inner spring, thereby powering the clock. Those with quartz movement require batteries to send charges to the quartz crystals within the clock. The crystals power the movement. Atomic clocks use radio signals to coordinate time with the official time kept by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Digital Clocks
In a digital clock, digital number displays replace the dial and rotating hands of the analog clock. Digital clocks require an electric current to display the time. For an LCD (liquid crystal display) clock, the current runs through liquid crystals that are layered between sheer surfaces. The liquid crystal layer creates the digits that display the time. Many people like to use an digital alarm clock at their bedside.
You will gain a greater appreciation for the science of timekeeping by taking a closer look at the components and learning a little clock terminology of even the most ordinary clocks. |
